Hainan Airlines is China’s only airline rated with five stars from Skytrax. The alleged premium carrier currently sells discounted tickets from New Zealand and Australia to Europe. A long layover in Shenzhen or Hainan Island’s capital Haikou is necessary during the trip. Prices start at €1,492 (~NZ$2,991) for business class flights from Auckland to Milan or just €220 (~A$382) for economy tickets from Australia to London.
All prices mentioned include checked bags. You can also add a stopover in China without raising (even lowering) the price.
Business Class
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to trip.com with your selected flight dates.
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Economy Class
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to trip.com with your selected flight dates.
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Most of the flights are operated by Hainan Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 fleet, except for trips from Melbourne to Haikou, which air Airbus A330-300. All planes involved feature lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 pattern in business class. You can find pictures of the product on the airline’s website.
In economy class, you’ll find a 3-3-3 pattern in the Boeing 787, while the Airbus A330 sports a 2-4-2 seating pattern. You can expect personal entertainment screens and USB power outlets in all cases.
Until December 2026, citizens of 34 countries in Europe may enter China for 30 days without applying for a visa. Citizens of the United Kingdom can benefit from visa-free transit.
Search & Book
These tickets are on sale without an expiration date. You can find departures at the advertised price primarily in March, with business class ticket available in May, too.
Google Flights will help you find additional flight dates and explore stopover options. We recommend buying these tickets on Hainan Airlines’ website, but you can find cheaper options with online travel agencies like trip.com.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Editor’s Note: Not only is this an awesome price: Both stopover options are intriguing and places that you probably won’t visit on your own. I’ve been to both Shenzhen and Haikou and would recommend spending a one or two day stopover without hesitation. If you stay longer in Hainan, be sure to check out Sanya at the South of the island, too.
Adding a China Stopover
Since you have long layovers in both cases, it makes sense to add a stopover in Shenzhen or Haikou. This is possible using the multi-city option and only raises the price marginally.
Information & Tips for Shenzhen
Shenzhen, a major city in southern China near Hong Kong, offers a mix of modern attractions and cultural sites. Key sights include the futuristic skyline of Futian, the tech exhibits at Shenzhen Museum, and theme parks like Window of the World and Splendid China. The local currency is the Chinese Yuan (CNY), and most payments are done via mobile apps like WeChat Pay or Alipay, though cash is still accepted. Prices are moderate—cheaper than Hong Kong but higher than many inland cities. The weather is hot and humid in summer, mild in winter, with typhoons possible from July to September.
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as eSIM4Travel, RedteaGo, and Textr. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for China 🇨🇳 Compared
→ All Dealz for Shenzhen
Information & Tips for Haikou
Haikou, the capital of China’s Hainan Province, is a relaxed coastal city best known for its beaches, volcanic landscapes, and historic Qilou Old Street with its arcaded buildings. Travelers pay with the Chinese yuan (RMB), and prices are generally moderate, with food and local transport cheaper than in major mainland cities, though resorts and imported goods can cost more. The climate is tropical, meaning it stays warm year-round, with high humidity, a rainy season from roughly May to October, and the occasional typhoon in late summer or early autumn.
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as eSIM4Travel, RedteaGo, and Textr. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for China 🇨🇳 Compared
→ All Dealz for Haikou
Miles & Points
Business Class flights are issued in booking class D from Auckland to Shenzhen and R from Shenzhen to Milan. You can earn the following miles and points outside of Hainan’s own Fortune Wings Club.
- 15.100 Meilen bei Etihad Guest
- 14.300 Meilen bei Alaska Mileage Plan
Cover Picture: Ellen26 auf Pixabay